Dogs Canis lupus familiaris are increasingly being used in wildlife conservation studies, due to their extensive ofactory capabilities. Dogs are a useful tool for species detection, species ...discrimination (or subspecies), and scent-matching of individuals within a species. Scent-matching can reduce or eliminate the need for expensive genotyping of obtained biological samples. We investigated the potential use of dogs to scent-match individual Eurasian beavers Castor fiber via anal gland secretion (AGS) samples, in 30 double blind floor platform experiments. We hypothesised that dogs can scent-match individual beavers when presented with AGS from different beavers of both sexes. We showed that dogs were able to scent-match individual beavers with average accuracy of 88.9%, sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 93.3%. Our results suggest that scent-matching dogs may be used as a reliable additional method to DNA analysing of biological samples to improve accuracy of individual beaver detection, and a better alternative than live-trapping/capturing in monitoring of specific beavers in e.g. a reintroduction project.
Background & Aims Real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) is a new two-dimensional transient elastography which had no assessment of factors associated with reliability, and had limited comparisons ...with other validated fibrosis biomarkers. The aim was to assess the applicability and performances of SWE for the diagnosis of fibrosis as compared with FibroTest (FT) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography using two probes (TE-M and TE-XL). Methods Without a gold standard, the strength of concordance, discordance analysis and latent class analysis (LCM) were applied. Results 422 patients were included. The applicability of SWE (90.0%) was significantly lower than that of FT (97.9%; p <0.0001) and did not differ from those of TE-M (90.5%) and TE-XL (90.3%); it was higher though for SWE (86%) in 22 patients with ascites vs. 55% using TE-M ( p = 0.04). For the diagnosis of all fibrosis stages as presumed by FT, the performance of SWE was highly significant (Obuchowski measure 0.807 ± 0.013 m ± se), but lower than those of TE-M (0.852; p = 0.0007) and TE-XL (0.834; p = 0.046). SWE had a low performance for discrimination between F0 and F1. For the diagnosis of cirrhosis using LCM, SWE specificities were all equal to 99%, and SWE sensitivities ranged from 0.47 to 0.64. For the diagnosis of non-cirrhotic stages, the results were heterogeneous. Conclusions The performance of SWE for the diagnosis of cirrhosis was similar to those of FT and TE. SWE applicability was lower than that of FT, but greater than that of TE in patients with ascites.
Introduction
Human in vivo models of skin damage were often used in research of cutaneous disorders. The most commonly used models were tape‐stripping as mechanical, sodium lauryl sulphate‐induced ...irritation as chemical and ultraviolet radiation as physical damage model. In regard to differences between models, they were expected to have different responses to damage and recovery, with unique skin parameters’ changes over time.
Objective
The aim was to compare skin parameters in three different skin damage models on the same anatomical location, with and without topical treatment.
Methods
Four test sites on each forearm were randomly assigned to three skin damage models with the fourth sites on each forearm chosen as a control, undamaged site. Skin parameters were assessed using non‐invasive methods.
Results
Sodium lauryl sulphate irritation caused the strongest damage with delayed reaction to the irritant. Tape stripping leads to highest initial skin barrier disruption but afterwards it showed the fastest skin recovery. Ultraviolet radiation did not affect skin barrier function, but it elevated skin erythema and melanin level. Tested preparation did not lead to changes in measured parameters.
Conclusion
The skin of the participants had different response to three skin damage models with distinct changes of skin parameters and recovery.
The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT03783819.
Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) by 2-dimensional-shear-wave elastography (LSM
2D-SWE
) are now widely used in hepatology. However, relevant information for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is ...scant. We compare LSM
2D-SWE
with liver biopsy (LB) in a cohort of PBC patients in Greece.
Data of 68 LBs from 53 PBC patients were retrospectively analyzed and fibrosis stage was compared to LSM
2D-SWE
. Forty-six patients (86.8%) were females and at the time of LBx median (IQR) age was 62.6 (53.2-72.1). Demographic, UDCA treatment, histological and B-mode ultrasound data were tested for their influence on LSM
2D-SWE
estimates.
Liver fibrosis stages F0-F4 were found in 4, 19, 19, 16 and 10 cases, respectively. Across stages F0-F4, the LSM
2D-SWE
was 5.6 (5.1-6.1), 7.0 (5.8-7.7), 9.1 (7.3-11.5), 10.8 (9.9-12.2) and 14.5 (11.9-25.7) kPa, respectively, with highly significant difference (p<.001). The LSM
2D-SWE
differed also significantly between F0 vs. F1 (p=.027), F1 vs. F2 (p=.005) and F3 vs. F4 (p=.017). The discriminatory ability of LSM
2D-SWE
for mild, significant, severe fibrosis and cirrhosis was highly significant in all comparisons (p<.001), with AUC
2D-SWE
95.3%, 87.4%, 85.3% and 95.3% and accuracy 89.7%, 85.3%, 80.9% and 86.8%, respectively. Among 21 parameters tested, significant predictors of LSM
2D-SWE
by multiple linear regression were fibrosis stage, portal inflammation and parenchymal heterogeneity. The portal inflammation grade accounted for 32.2% of LSM variation with adjusted R
2
0.428.
In patients with PBC, LSM measurements by 2D-SWE can reliably discriminate between mild, significant, severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. Measurements are significantly affected by portal inflammation grade.
Liver cirrhosis is the fourth cause of death in adults in Western countries, with complications of portal hypertension being responsible for most casualties. In order to reduce mortality, development ...of accurate diagnostic methods for early diagnosis, effective etiologic treatment, improved pharmacological therapy for portal hypertension, and effective therapies for end-stage liver failure are required.
Early detection of cirrhosis and portal hypertension is now possible using simple non-invasive methods, leading to the advancement of individualized risk stratification in clinical practice. Despite previous assumptions, cirrhosis can regress if its etiologic cause is effectively removed. Nevertheless, while this is now possible for cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C, the incidence of cirrhosis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis has increased dramatically and effective therapies are not yet available. New drugs acting on the dynamic component of hepatic vascular resistance are being studied and will likely improve the future management of portal hypertension.
Cirrhosis is now seen as a dynamic disease able to progress and regress between the compensated and decompensated stages. This opinion article aims to provide the author's personal view of the current major advances and challenges in this field.
This study aimed to produce and characterize an oil in water (O/W) nanoemulsion containing Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill hydroglycolic extract, as well as evaluate its preliminary and accelerated ...thermal stability and moisturizing efficacy. The formulations containing 0.5% of xanthan gum (FX) and 0.5% of xanthan gum and 1% of Opuntia ficus-indica MILL extract (FXE) were white, homogeneus and fluid in aspect. Both formulations were stable during preliminary and accelerated stability tests. FX and FXE presented a pH compatible to skin pH (4.5-6.0); droplet size varying from 92.2 to 233.6 nm; a polydispersion index (PDI) around 0.200 and a zeta potential from -26.71 to -47.01 mV. FXE was able to increase the water content of the stratum corneum for 5 h after application on the forearm. The O/W nanoemulsions containing 1% of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill extract presented suitable stability for at least for 60 days. Besides, this formulation was able to increase the water content of stratum corneum, showing its moisturizing efficacy.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and unhealthy alcohol use are major drivers of the burden of liver disease worldwide and commonly co-occur. Assessment of underlying liver damage is a cornerstone of ...the clinical care of patients with chronic HCV infection and/or unhealthy alcohol use because many of them are diagnosed at advanced stages of disease. Early diagnosis of liver disease before decompensated liver cirrhosis becomes established is essential for treatment with direct acting antivirals and/or abstinence from alcohol consumption, which are the main therapeutic approaches for clinical management. In this review, we discuss current knowledge around the use of non-invasive methods to assess liver disease, such as abdominal ultrasound, controlled attenuation parameter, transient elastography, magnetic resonance imaging, and indices based on serum markers of liver injury.
Many different non-invasive methods have been studied with the purpose of staging liver fibrosis. The objective of this study was verifying if transient elastography is superior to aspartate ...aminotransferase to platelet ratio index for staging fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
A systematic review with meta-analysis of studies which evaluated both non-invasive tests and used biopsy as the reference standard was performed. A random-effects model was used, anticipating heterogeneity among studies. Diagnostic odds ratio was the main effect measure, and summary receiver operating characteristic curves were created. A sensitivity analysis was planned, in which the meta-analysis would be repeated excluding each study at a time.
Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Regarding the prediction of significant fibrosis, transient elastography and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index had diagnostic odds ratios of 11.70 (95% confidence interval = 7.13-19.21) and 8.56 (95% confidence interval = 4.90-14.94) respectively. Concerning the prediction of cirrhosis, transient elastogra-phy and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index had diagnostic odds ratios of 66.49 (95% confidence interval = 23.71-186.48) and 7.47 (95% confidence interval = 4.88-11.43) respectively.
In conclusion, there was no evidence of significant superiority of transient elastography over aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index regarding the prediction of significant fibrosis, but the former proved to be better than the latter concerning prediction of cirrhosis.
Intracranial pressure (ICP) measurements are essential in evaluation and treatment of neurological disorders such as subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, hydrocephalus, ...meningitis/encephalitis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The techniques of ICP monitoring have evolved from invasive to non-invasive-with both limitations and advantages. Some limitations of the invasive methods include short-term monitoring, risk of infection, restricted mobility of the subject, etc. The invasiveness of a method limits the frequency of ICP evaluation in neurological conditions like hydrocephalus, thus hampering the long-term care of patients with compromised ICP. Thus, there has been substantial interest in developing noninvasive techniques for assessment of ICP. Several approaches were reported, although none seem to provide a complete solution due to inaccuracy. ICP measurements are fundamental for immediate care of TBI patients in the acute stages of severe TBI injury. In severe TBI, elevated ICP is associated with mortality or poor clinical outcome. ICP monitoring in conjunction with other neurological monitoring can aid in understanding the pathophysiology of brain damage. This review article presents: (a) the significance of ICP monitoring; (b) ICP monitoring methods (invasive and non-invasive); and (c) the role of ICP monitoring in the management of brain damage, especially TBI.
Hyperspectral analysis represents a powerful technique for diagnostics of morphological and chemical information from aboveground parts of the plants, but the real potential of the method in ...pre-screening of phenolics in leaves is still insufficiently explored. In this study, assessment of the sensitivity and reliability of non-invasive methods of various phenolic compounds, also analyzed by HPLC in chicory plants (Cichorium intybus L.) exposed to various color light pretreatments was done. The hyperspectral records in visible and near infrared (VNIR) spectra were recorded using a handheld spectrometer and relationships between the specific hyperspectral parameters and the contents of tested phenolic compounds in chicory leaves were analyzed. Moreover, the correlations between the hyperspectral parameters and related parameters derived from the multispectral fluorescence records were assessed to compare the sensitivity of both techniques. The results indicated a relatively high correlation of anthocyanin-related parameters (ARI, mARI, mACI indices) with the content of some of tested phenolic compounds (quercetin-3-gluconuride, isorhamnetine-3-gluconuride, etc.), as well as with fluorescence ANTH index. Similar trends were observed in flavonoid parameter based on the near infra-red spectral bands (700, 760 nm), which expressed a high correlation with chlorogenic acid. On the other hand, the most frequently used flavonoid (FLAVI) indices based on UV-to-blue band reflectance showed very weak correlations with phenolic compounds, as well as with fluorescence FLAV index. The detailed analysis of the correlation between reflectance and fluorescence flavonoid parameters has shown that the parameters based on spectral reflectance are sensitive to increase of UV-absorbing compounds from low to moderate values, but, unlike the fluorescence parameter, they are not useful to recognize a further increase from middle to high or very high contents. Thus, our results outlined the possibilities, but also the limits of the use of hyperspectral analysis for rapid screening phenolic content, providing a practical evidence towards more efficient production of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical use.
•Spectral reflectance is sensitive to recognize of UV-absorbing compounds from low to moderate values.•High correlation of anthocyanin-related parameters (ARI, mARI, mACI indices) with the tested phenolics.•High correlation of flavonoid spectral reflectance indices with a chlorogenic acid content.•The reflectance-based FLAVI index showed very weak correlation with phenolic compounds.•The results outlined the possibilities, but also the limits of the use of hyperspectral analysis.
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